Diascia plant named ‘KLEDB10714’

ABSTRACT

A new  Diascia  plant named ‘KLEDB10714’ particularly distinguished by its large pink flowers and very good branching, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Diascia barberae Hook.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEDB10714’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Diascia, botanically known as Diascia barberae Hook and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEDB10714’. The new variety resulted from a cross conducted in June 2007 in Stuttgart, Germany between the female parent, proprietary Diascia plant ‘DB 2007 0101’ (unpatented), and the male parent, proprietary Diascia plant ‘DLP1’ (unpatented). A single plant selection was chosen for further evaluation and asexual propagation.

The new variety was first propagated via vegetative cuttings and in vitro propagation in May 2008 in Stuttgart, Germany, and has been asexually reproduced repeatedly by vegetative cuttings over three generations. ‘KLEDB10714’ has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successive asexual propagations via vegetative cuttings.

No Plant Breeder's Rights have been applied for this variety. ‘KLEDB10714’ has not been made publicly available more than one year prior to filing of this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in hanging baskets in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Very good branching; and     -   2. Large flowers.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPH

This new Diascia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph which shows the overall plant habit including blooms, buds, and foliage of the plant in full color. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photograph was taken in the Summer of 2010 of twenty-seven week old plants grown from rooted cuttings in 15 centimeter baskets in Stuttgart, Germany under normal horticultural practices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEDB10714’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Stuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken in the Summer of 2010 on twenty-seven week old plants grown in 15 centimeter baskets with a minimum pinch date 9 weeks and potting at week 10. Color readings were taken under natural light. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), Fifth Edition (2007).

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Scrophulariaceae.         -   Botanical name.—Diascia barberae Hook.         -   Common name.—Diascia. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary Diascia plant, ‘DB 2007 0101’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—The proprietary Diascia plant, ‘DLP1’             (unpatented). -   Growth:     -   -   Form and growth habit.—Round compact.         -   Height.—22.0 cm.         -   Width.—42.0 cm.         -   Spread (including flowers).—42.0 cm.         -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—5 weeks.         -   Outdoor plant performance.—Very good after planting.         -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—4 weeks. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.         -   Shape.—Oval.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Cordate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Immature.—Color: Green. Upper surface: RHS 143A. Lower             surface: RHS 143B. Texture: Smooth.         -   Mature (fully expanded).—Length: 1.0 cm. Width: 1.0 cm.             Color: Green. Upper surface: RHS 143A. Lower surface: RHS             143B.         -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Color: RHS 143A.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Petiole.—Length: 0.3 cm. Width: 0.1 cm. Color: RHS 143C. -   Stems:     -   -   Length.—30.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 143C.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Anthocyanin.—Absent. -   Flower bud:     -   -   Shape.—Oval.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Length.—0.5 cm.         -   Color (at tight bud).—RHS 65B. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal raceme with flowers in an             alternate arrangement.         -   Blooming habit.—Continuous.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—3 to 4 days.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Inflorescence length.—8.0 cm.         -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 143A. Length: 2.5 cm. Diameter: 0.1 cm.             Texture: Smooth. -   Flower:     -   -   Type.—Solitary.         -   Quantity (per raceme).—18, with usually 1 to 4 open at the             same time.         -   Shape.—5 petals fused at base, the 2 smaller upper petals             fused, 2 lateral lobes and 1 broad lower lobe with 2 short             spors at the underside formed by the lower ends of lateral             and lower petals.         -   Length.—2.0 cm.         -   Depth.—0.4 cm.         -   Width.—1.3 cm.         -   Color.—Pink. Upper surface: RHS 68B. Lower surface: RHS 68C.             Corolla (inside color): RHS 68A fading to RHS 68B.         -   Petals (lobes).—Quantity: 5. Arrangement: Fused and build             typical flower shape: 2 long horns or spurs at the back of             the flower. Flower is shaped in dropping lower lip and 4             small curly petals at top. Apex: Rounded. Base: Fused.             Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth, glabrous on both surfaces.         -   Upper lobes, size.—Length (from the Corolla opening):             0.7 cm. Width: 0.7 cm.         -   Lateral lobes, size.—Length (from the Corolla opening):             0.6 cm. Width: 0.7 cm. Spur: Shape: Cuspidate. Length:             0.5 cm. Diameter: 0.2 cm. Color: RHS 68B.         -   Lower lobe.—Length (from the Corolla opening): 1.0 cm.             Width: 1.2 cm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity: 5. Color: RHS 143A. Length: 0.2 cm. Width:             0.1 cm. Shape: Acuminate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse.             Anthocyanin: Absent. Texture: Smooth.         -   Pedicels.—Color: RHS 143A fading to RHS 200C. Length:             1.1 cm. Diameter: 0.05 cm. Texture: Smooth. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 4 coherent, arching forwards and somewhat             twisting around the pistil. Filament: Color: RHS 59A.             Length: 0.25 cm. Diameter: 0.05 cm. Anther color: RHS 14C.             Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: RHS 14C.         -   Pistils.—Quantity: 1. Length: 0.2 cm. Stigma color: RHS             143C. Style color: RHS 143C. -   Fruit and seed set: None observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘KLEDB10714’ differs from the female parent, proprietary Diascia plant ‘DB 2007 0101’ (unpatented), in that ‘KLEDB10714’ has short flower stems, while ‘DB 2007 0101’ has long flower stems. Additionally, ‘KLEDB10714’ has large flowers, while ‘DB 2007 0101’ has medium flowers.

‘KLEDB10714’ differs from the male parent, proprietary Diascia plant ‘DLP1’ (unpatented), in that ‘KLEDB10714’ has pink flowers, while ‘DLP1’ has light pink flowers. Additionally, ‘KLEDB10714’ has very good branching, while ‘DLP1’ has medium branching.

‘KLEDB10714’ differs from the commercial variety ‘Darla Pink’ in that ‘KLEDB10714’ has smaller flowers and better branching than ‘Darla Pink’. 

1. A new and distinct variety of Diascia plant named ‘KLEDB10714’ as shown and described herein. 